Systems, Devices, and/or Methods Regarding Specific Precursors or Tube Control Agent for the Synthesis of Carbon Nanofiber and Nanotube

ABSTRACT

Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise, via a tube control agent (TCA) and a metallic catalyst, producing a carbon nanotube. At least some carbon used to form the carbon nanotube can be obtained from a plant, a cellulose product, and/or a cellulosic product. At least some of the carbon can be converted into powder.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to, and incorporates by reference herein in its entirety, pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/173,777 (Attorney Docket No. 1200-002), filed 29 Apr. 2009.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A wide variety of potential practical and useful embodiments will be more readily understood through the following detailed description of certain exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanying exemplary drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a general schematic of an exemplary embodiment of a reactor system 1000;

FIG. 2 shows a general schematic of an exemplary embodiment of a reactor system 2000;

FIG. 3 shows a general schematic of a reactor using an electric stove using a quartz tube and/or a ceramic tube adapted for solid phase synthesis of carbon nanotubes;

FIG. 4 shows a Fourier Transform Infrared (“FtIR”) spectrum of three different TCA in which TCA 3 shows an absorption peak due to a —CN group;

FIG. 5 shows a Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (“FE-SEM”) image of pyrolysis product using a TCA comprising a —CN group (resin3);

FIG. 6 shows a FE-SEM image of a pyrolysis product using TCA (resin 1 and 2) lacking a—CN group;

FIG. 7 shows a FE-SEM image of pyrolysis product using additives carrying a —CN group (TCA 4);

FIG. 8 shows a FE-SEM image of nano carbon product from an exemplary embodiment (using TCA containing —CN group, TCA 4) having an outside diameter of approximately 600 nm and an inside diameter of approximately 420 nm;

FIG. 9 shows a FE-SEM image of carbon nano product from an exemplary embodiment (using. TCA containing additives comprising a —CN group, TCA 4) having an outside diameter less than approximately 1 nm;

FIG. 10 shows a FE-SEM image of a twisting nano carbon product from an exemplary embodiment (using TCA containing additive comprising a—CN group TCA 4);

FIG. 11 is a reference thermogravimetric analysis (“TGA”) data regarding heat resistant properties of a known carbon nano tube product;

FIG. 12 illustrates TGA data for an exemplary embodiment of nano carbon product using a TCA comprising a —CN group;

FIG. 13 shows a FE-SEM image of nano carbon structures of an exemplary embodiment using a TCA comprising a —CN group;

FIG. 14 is an X-ray diffractogram of carbon nano structures of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 shows a FE-SEM image of nano carbon structures of an exemplary embodiment using TCA comprising a —CN group;

FIG. 16 is an X-ray diffractogram of carbon nano structures of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 shows a FE-SEM image of nano carbon product of an exemplary embodiment when additives carrying a —CN group were used;

FIG. 18 is an X-ray diffractogram of nano carbon product of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 shows a FE-SEM image of nano carbon product of an exemplary embodiment when additives carrying a —CN group were used;

FIG. 20 is an X-ray diffractogram of nano carbon products of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 21000;

FIG. 22 is an FtIR of TCA 4, which shows a —CN group;

FIG. 23 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a reactor system 23000;

FIG. 24 is a table of thermogravimetric analysis data for certain exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 25 shows a FE-SEM image of a wood powder raw material of an exemplary embodiment carrying TCA;

FIG. 26 shows a FE-SEM image of nano carbon product of an exemplary embodiment from the raw material described in FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 shows a FE-SEM image of a chemical top down, product of the wood powder described in FIG. 25;

FIG. 28 shows a FE-SEM image of nano carbon product of an exemplary embodiment from the raw material described in FIG. 27; and

FIG. 29 shows effect of baking temperature on the nano carbon product diameter for two different baking modes; gradual baking mode and sudden baking mode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise, via a tube control agent (“TCA”) and a metallic catalyst, producing a tube shape nano carbon product. At least some carbon sources used to form the tube shape nano carbon product can be obtained from a plant, a cellulose product, and/or a cellulosic product. At least some of the raw material can be converted into powder.

A carbon nano fiber is a nano carbon product having very small diameter, which can be less than 5 nm or even less than 1 nm and can be characterized by Bragg diffraction pattern peaks appearing at 2 theta (2θ) of approximately 26° and/or 43.5°. A carbon nanotube is a nano carbon products disclosed and characterized by Bragg diffraction pattern peaks appearing 2 theta (2θ) of approximately 44.5° and/or 51.6°. Another carbon nanotube is characterized by Bragg diffraction pattern peaks appearing 2 theta of approximately 26° and/or 43.5°. These carbon nano materials can be prepared in a solid phase by the pyrolysis and/or heating of the solid raw materials both with a specific additive named as tube control agent or tube control additive (“TCA”). A tube shape nano carbon product growth process can comprise controlling the length of the tubes as well as the tube diameter. FIG. 25 shows FE-SEM image of a raw precursor made out of wood chips. FIG. 26 shows the resulting nano carbon product from the raw material described in FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 shows an FE-SEM image of a chemical top down product from the wood chips described in FIG. 25. A large bundle of wood, such as observed in FIG. 25, can be torn off into small micro fibrils as shown in FIG. 27.

FIG. 28 show the nano carbon product of the exemplary embodiment from the raw material described in FIG. 27. A comparison of FE-SEM image of FIGS. 26 and 28 confirmed that small size raw materials gives small scale of nano carbon products.

In certain exemplary embodiments, the solid phase synthetic process of a precursor comprised of solid carbon source, specific tube control additive and solid catalyst can control the tube size in terms of length and diameter.

The pyrolysis or heating process can be carried out in two different modes: a slow or gradual heating process and a sudden heating process. It is found that changing of heating mode will change baking process; and sudden heating mode always gives rise to longer length and larger diameter than gradual heating mode (FIG. 29 and FIG. 30).

Certain exemplary embodiments relate to nano technology, and more particularly relate to a carbon nanotubes and carbon nano fiber.

Techniques that have been developed to produce nanotubes in sizeable quantities comprise arc discharge, laser ablation, high pressure carbon monoxide (HiPCO), and/or chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The CVD method has shown promise in terms of its price/unit ratio. The CVD equipment and process can be plasma enhanced CVD (PECVD), plasma remote CVD, and/or thermal CVD, etc. In certain processes of CVD, the carbon source materials are thermally decomposed (by the heat source or by plasma) into free radicals of carbon, which then selectively adsorb onto the surface of selective metallic catalyst(s) where the tube growth can occur. Thus, the carbon source materials, first of all, can be molecules and/or molecule clusters, which carry the chemical bonds or functional groups, can be broken down into free radicals and remanufactured into the tube that comprises carbon atoms arranged by sp2 or sp3 bonding systems. Certain carbon source materials utilized in the research of carbon nanotubes are hydrocarbons including triple bond material such as acetylene gas, double bond materials such as unsaturated hydrocarbon materials, and/or single bond materials such as saturated hydrocarbon materials and/or alcohols. Certain exemplary CVD methods involve reacting a carbon-containing gas (such as acetylene, ethylene, ethanol, etc.) with metal catalysts (such as cobalt, nickel, iron and/or a combination of these such as cobalt/iron or cobalt/molybdenum) at temperatures above approximately 600° C. These methods can be considered as gas phase synthesis process in which the free radicals of carbon will adsorb onto the surface of a catalyst already located on a support. Thus, this process can also be called a catalytic support growth process. In other processes, gas phase carbon sources are mixed with vapor phase catalyst(s) in the high temperature zone of the reactor. So the premix precursors, which are not solid as sometimes seen in a catalytic growth process, can end up in products comprising uncontrolled impurities of varied diameters; even in one single tube besides residue metals, certain exemplary embodiments can comprise non-tube products such as amorphous carbon. In certain exemplary embodiments, efforts to achieve very pure carbon nanotube such as single walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) with gas phase plasma CVD process can end up with a relatively low yield in a relatively long reaction time due to slow feeding rate of gas precursor(s) into the reaction chamber.

An alternative process that might overcome certain issues found in the gas phase process can be denoted as a solid phase synthetic process. Certain exemplary embodiments of the solid phase synthetic process can comprise two methods; an arc discharge and a laser ablation method. In the arc discharge method, an electric arc is an electrical breakdown of a gas which produces an ongoing plasma discharge, similar to the instant spark, resulting from a current flowing through normally nonconductive media such as air. An archaic term is the voltaic arc as used in the phrase “voltaic arc lamp”. The various shapes of electric arc are emergent properties of nonlinear patterns of the current and the electric field. The arc occurs in the gas-filled space between two conductive electrodes (often made of carbon) and results in a relatively high temperature, capable of melting or vaporizing virtually anything. In the arc discharge process, a carbon anode loaded with catalyst material (such as a combination of metals such as nickel/cobalt, nickel/cobalt/iron, and/or nickel and/or a transition element such as yttrium, etc.) is consumed in the arc plasma. The catalyst and the carbon are vaporized, and the carbon nanotube (“CNT”) material is grown by the condensation of carbon onto the condensed liquid catalyst. Sulfur compounds such as iron sulfide, sulfur or hydrogen sulfides can be used as a catalyst promoter to maximize the single walled nanotube (“SWNT”) material yield. When using certain exemplary methods based on arc discharge, it can be difficult to increase the amount of vaporized carbon, and/or can be difficult to control the process parameters of the arc. In the arc the carbon rods can act as the feed materials and the source (electrodes) for arc discharge. Accordingly, it can be difficult to separately control these functions. This can result in limited production of carbon nanotubes and in a product that can be contaminated with other clustered carbon materials, causing a relatively high cost of mass production. The cost of SWNT material can be determined by production rate, yield, and raw materials cost. The raw materials consist of a carbon source, a catalyst, and promoters. Current modes of SWNT material production involve the use of catalyst-packed graphite rods which are consumed in a direct current (“DC”) electric arc to produce soot that contains SWNT material.

A variation of the packed rod technique can utilize the catalyst as a molten metal in a small crucible onto which a graphite rod is arced, thereby co-vaporizing carbon and catalyst to form several grams of SWNT material per operation. The product of the arc-based production methods contains SWNT material that is substantially coated with substantially amorphous carbon, as well as with other contaminants, which can comprise amorphous and/or graphitic carbon particles, carbon-coated metal catalyst particles, and/or traces of fullerenes-C₆₀, C₇₀, etc. Separation schemes have been devised to remove the contaminant which allow limited (1˜10%) recovery of relatively pure carbon nanotubes. Relatively pure SWNT material can be produced from untreated bituminous coal, but can have a twofold to fourfold reduction in purity, such as from transition metal impurities (e.g., such as from pyrite in bituminous coal), which can contribute a synergistic catalytic effect. In certain exemplary embodiments, it might be possible to produce SWNT material from pyrite rich bituminous coal without adding any separate catalyst. However, the presence of sulfur can decrease the yield of SWNT compared to embodiments that substantially do not comprise sulfur.

CNT can be synthesized by laser ablation such as by using a laser to ablate a composite block of graphite mixed with catalytic metal. The catalytic metal can comprise Co, Nb, Pt, Ni, Cu, and/or a combination thereof. The composite block can be formed by making a paste of graphite powder, carbon cement, and the catalytic metal. The paste can be placed in a cylindrical mold and baked for several hours. After solidification, the graphite block can be placed inside an oven with a laser pointed at it, and an inert gas such as Ar gas can be pumped along the direction of the laser point. The oven temperature can be approximately 1200° C. As the laser ablates the target, carbon nanotubes form and are carried by the gas flow onto a cool copper collector. Like carbon nanotubes formed using the electric-arc discharge technique, carbon nanotube fibers can be deposited in a relatively haphazard and/or tangled fashion.

Although certain exemplary methods can produce relatively large quantities of nanotubes, their cost can be a barrier to large-scale applications. Further, these naturally occurring varieties, because of the highly uncontrolled environment in which the carbon nanotubes are produced, can be irregular in size and/or quality, lacking the high degree of uniformity to meet certain objectives of research and/or industry. Certain exemplary embodiments can produce these nanotubes at low cost and with suitable purity and physical properties (e.g., controlled length and chirality) for applications in a high volume industrial process.

When making carbon nanotubes in the gas phase, the diameter and/or the length of the tube can be difficult to control. In the process of making carbon nanotubes using plasma or sophisticated energy sources such as an e-beam and/or a laser beam, the product cost can be relatively high to produce fine carbon fibers and/or several different kinds of carbon nanotubes. Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a production method of producing a combination of (1) a polymer material that disappears upon thermal decomposition and (2) carbon precursor polymers. The polymer material can be thermally decomposed. Carbon is formed from the carbon precursor polymers. The foregoing combination can comprise micro-capsules that include a shell of the carbon precursor polymers on the polymer material that disappears upon thermal decomposition. The thermal decomposing and the forming can be performed by baking the micro-capsules. The micro-capsules can be prepared by an interfacial chemical technique. The micro encapsulation technique can be relatively complicated and expensive for large volume production as the raw material preparation needs more complicated steps. Overall, these processes can give rise to a relatively low yield of carbon products and/or CNT products.

Certain exemplary embodiments can synthesize carbon nanotubes and related nano materials having a relatively high yield. Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a solid phase synthesized carbon nano fiber and/or nanotube by the pyrolysis of solid carbon source mixed with tube control agent under unoxidizing atmosphere. The process can have some advantages and benefits over other solid phase synthetic process using arc discharge and laser ablation technique in terms of reaction yield improvement and large production scale capability.

In order to achieve a relatively high yield of tube shape products, first, the process can produce a relatively high yield of pyrolysis product and/or the portion of tube shape components in the pyrolysis product can be high. The yield can be determined as the weight percentage of the pyrolysis product obtained from the original weight of the precursor at the end of pyrolysis process. The terminology of “high yield” can be defined as a yield greater than approximately 20%. Other kinds of precursor(s) containing a relatively high portion of aromatic systems such as polystyrene and its copolymers can give a relatively poor yield of pyrolysis products. Certain exemplary embodiments can combine the factors providing a relatively high yield of pyrolysis products and the factors providing a relatively high yield of tube shape products in order to achieve a relatively high yield of carbon nanotubes.

Certain exemplary embodiments provide a material set that can help to form controllable carbon nanotube products in terms of uniformity, purity, and/or relatively high conductivity. The specific solid precursor can be composed of 3 components: a) carbon source from specific plant and/or plant products, such as a tree from a tropical area, b) specific tube control additives (TCA), and c) a metallic catalyst. These three component combination can efficate a solid phase process of producing carbon nanotubes.

The solid phase synthesized carbon nanotubes and carbon nano fibers can be produced by heating of solid raw materials in a substantially oxygen free environment utilizing precursor(s) comprising a selected combination of carbon sources, specific tube control agent and/or one or more metallic catalysts, etc. In certain exemplary embodiments, such components can form a harmonical combination adapted to form a unique precursor capable of forming desirable carbon nanotube products. The specific TCA can be an important factor as the TCA can effectively provoke the adsorption of free carbon radicals onto metallic catalyst molecules. These functions can exist on separated molecules and/or can co-exist in a single molecule.

In order to work with a selected TCA, certain kinds of solid carbon sources can be used. The solid carbon sources can be selected from cellulose products from the trees, plants, vegetables found in tropical area in the world including Asia, Africa, and/or South America, etc. These cellulose products can be but not limited to starch, wood, paper, cloth, bean, cotton, and the like. The starch, which can form tube shape of nano carbon products, can comprise rice starch, potato starch, corn starch, wheat starch, and the like. The cellulosic wood products can be pine wood powder, cedar wood powder, bamboo wood powder, paddy shell powder, coconut shell, and the like. The cellulosic sources can be soy bean, green bean, red bean, black bean, coffee bean, corn and the like or a combination of different bean source. The carbon sources can be selected from natural products other than cellulosic sources such as fatty acid from animals, vegetable oils, biodiesel oils, jetropha curcas oil, coconut oils, sesame seed oils, soy bean oils, eucalyptic leaves containing eucalyptic oils. Such oil stuffs need to be stabilized on a substrate by adsorbing on a solid carbon source before entering the reaction chamber.

The cellulose carbon sources can be formatted into a powdery format. The powdery format of carbon source materials can be achieved by a mechanical milling (this can be called as physical top-down process), a biochemical process, or a chemical process (this can be called as chemical top-down process). For the second case, a biochemical enzyme can be utilized to convert the powder products into nano powder products by a chemical reaction of enzyme on cellulosic materials. For the third case, some specific chemicals can be added to split the large accumulation of cellulosic substance into much smaller micro fibril products. Thus, it is working as a chemical top-down process in a comparison with a physical top-down process utilizing mechanical milling

The tube control agent molecules can be selected from a group of chemicals having two specific functional groups. The first functional group can have a relatively strong interaction with metallic element in the metallic catalyst. The second functional group can have a relatively strong adhesion with carbon source molecules. The tube control agent molecules can be selected from a group of chemicals having specific functional groups as indicated below

in which the formula comprises a 3 member ring, 4 member ring, 5 member ring, 6 member ring, 7 member ring, or 8 member ring having substituent groups including hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, or aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₁R₂, —NR₃H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR₄, —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₅R₆, —COCl. These member rings are saturated and unsaturated, n=1, . . . 6. These member rings can be benzene, napthalene, anthracene, perylene, perinone

The tube control agent itself can be a carbon source and/or can be physically or chemically doped onto the carbon source molecules. The tube control agent can work as an effective hook linking metal catalyst molecules with carbon sources molecules. The above described tube control agents can be used alone or it can be used together with specific additives such as described in (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11)

in which R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅ can be metal, hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with and without hetero atoms, with and without substituent groups, which can comprise —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₆R₇, —NR₈H, —NH2, —COOH, —CO, —COOR_(S), —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO₃H, —SO₂, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₁₀R₁₁R₁₂, R₁₃, R₁₄, and/or —COCl. Each of R₆, R₇, R₈, R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, R₁₂, R₁₃, R₁₄, can be functional groups which can contribute to physical and/or chemical properties of TCA and thus, can contribute to the success of making carbon nano fiber and tube, for example, by increasing adsorption power and/or enhancing interaction between carbon sources, catalyst and/or TCA; the ring can be a 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 member ring, an unsaturated or saturated ring. Examples of additives can be cited as but not limited to those enumerated hereinbelow:

in which R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇ can be metal, hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with and without hetero atoms, with and without substituent groups, which can comprise —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₈R₉, —NR₁₀H, —NH2, —COOH, —CO, —COOR₁₁, —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO₃H, —SO₂, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₁₂R₁₃, R₁₄, R₁₅, R₁₆, and/or —COCl, and/or the like. Each of R₈, R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, R₁₂, R₁₃, R₁₄, R₁₅, R₁₆ can be functional groups which can contribute to physical and/or chemical properties of TCA and thus, can contribute to the success of making carbon nano fiber and tube, for example, by increasing adsorption power and/or enhancing interaction between carbon sources, catalyst, and/or TCA.

Examples of these compounds can be cited as:

acetonitrile pine wood resin cedar wood oil 1 Poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) 18,286-9 2 Poly acrylonitrile 3 Poly 3-methylenecyclobutene- www.springerlink.com/index/U818173063883084.pdf 1-carbonitrile 4 Poly(acrylonitrile-co- 41890-0 butadiene), amine terminated 5 Poly 3-methylenecyclobutene- www.springerlink.com/index/U818173063883084.pdf 1-carbonitrile 6 Poly(acrylonitrile-co- 41890-0 butadiene), amine terminated 7 copo(acrylonitrile-butadiene- ABS resin styrene) 8 Phthalonitrile and its derivatives 9 2,2′-Azobisisobutyronitrile Aldrich cat No 44,109-0 10 4,4-Azobis(4-cyanovaleric acid) Aldrich cat No 11,816-8 11 1,1′ Azobis(cyclo- Aldrich cat No 38,021-0 hexanecarbonitrile) 12 acetonitrile Aldrich cat No 48,521-7 13 Acrylonitrile monomer 14 2-acetoxy-3-butenenitrile Aldrich cat No 27,962-5 15 1-Cyanovinyl acetate 22,603-3 16 5-Acetoxymethyl-2-amino-3- 86,162-6 cyanopyrazine 17 Acetoxyphenylacetonitrile 42,019-0 18 2-Acetoxy-4- 41,996-6 phenylbutyronitrile 19 5-acetyl-2-amino-4-(2- 45,148-7 furanyl)-6-methyl-4 H- pyran-3-carbonitrile 20 Nipecotamic Aldrich catalog N810-5 21 4-hydroxy quinazoline Aldrich Catalog number H5,760-2 22 4-Hydroxypyrazolo[3,4- Aldrich Catalog number H5,660-6 d]pyrimidine 23 Primuline Aldrich Catalog number 20,686-5 24 Phosphonitrilic chloride Aldrich Catalog number 23,028-6 trimer 25 Phosphorus tribromide Aldrich Catalog number 25,653-6 26 Hexyltributylphosphonium Aldrich Catalog number 35,933-5 bromide 27 Hexyltriethylammonium Aldrich Catalog number 30,144-2 bromide 28 Lignin from tree

Carbonitrile compounds can be polymers of 3-methylenecyclobutene-1-carbonitrile, pine wood resin containing —CN, polymer of 2-methyl, 3-methylenecyclobutene-1-carbonitrile, and/or any polymers comprising a carbonitrile functional group

Carbonitrile polymeric precursors for the synthesis of carbon nanotube may contain plasticizers such as Dibutyl phthalate, Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, Dicyclohexyl phthalate, Butylbenzyl phthalate, Diisodecyl phthalate, Diisononyl phthalate, Di-n-hexyl azelate, Di-2-ethylhexyl adipate, Acetyl tributyl citrate, Acetyl-tri-2-ethylhexyl citrate, Diphenyl-2-ethylhexyl phosphate, Diisononyl phthalate, 1,2-Cyclohexane dicarbonic acid-diisononyl ester, Adipic acid polyester with 1,3-butanediol and 1,6-hexanediol, di-n-octyl tin, and the like.

Besides carbonitrile compounds as cited above, electron donor molecules such as amino compound, phosphonium compound, ammonium compounds can also be effective TCA to produce tube shape nano carbon products

The foregoing implementations can be described by reference to FIGS. 1-4.

EXAMPLES Example 1

Measurement of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FtIR) chart of three different pine wood resin 1, 2, 3 Pine wood resin 1, 2, 3 were obtained from different sources. FIG. 4 shows FtIR charts of these 3 different kinds of pine wood resins. The FtIR chart of resin 1 and 2 didn't show any absorption peaks at the vicinity of approximately 1050 cm⁻¹, representing —CN group. This data reveals that the resin 3 is the only one which does carry carbonitrile —CN group on its molecule. FIG. 22 shows FtIR of another TCA compound. This TCA when added into the solid precursor shows tube shape nano products in the exemplary of embodiment

Example 2

Preparation of the precursor using resin 3 carrying —CN group in the molecule. Approximately one (1) g of FeCl₃ and 10 g of TCA number 9 in the list were dissolved in a mixture of a solvent containing ten (10) g of deionized water and five (5) g of methanol. Then approximately six (6) g of pine wood resin were added into the solution and stirred at room temperature for approximately thirty (30) minutes, then heated up to approximately one hundred degree Celsius (100° C.) for approximately a further ninety (90) minutes to achieve a light brown solid powder.

FIG. 1 shows a general schematic of an exemplary embodiment of a reactor system 1000, which can be for use in solid phase synthesis of carbon nanotubes. Reactor system 1000 can use a gas stove 1300 for a solid phase synthesis of carbon nanotubes. Reactor system 1000 can comprise a raw material holder 1200. Carbon sources can be placed in raw material holder 1200. Upon heating, the carbon sources can evolve gases through an outgases inlet 1100. A valve 1400 can be opened to allow a vacuum pump 1500 to withdraw gases from outgases inlet 1100.

Example 3

Synthesis of Carbon Nanotubes in a Solid Phase using precursor containing —CN group (resin 3). The solid raw materials described in the Example 2 were weighed into a quartz tube and then inserted into the reaction chamber, as shown in FIG. 1, which was pre-heated to approximately nine hundred degree Celsius (900° C.) and filled with N₂ gas at the flow rate of approximately 2.5 liters/minute. Then, the heating inside the reaction chamber was started and the heating was continued for approximately two (2) hours. Afterward, the positive heating was stopped and a flow of N₂ gas was continued until the temperature of the chamber dropped to approximately room temperature. The quartz tube was removed and the black product inside the quartz tube was collected. The black product showed a significant increase of magnetic properties, and was tested. The results of the tests are shown by the FE-SEM, in FIG. 5. A tube product was obtained in this example.

FIG. 2 shows a general schematic of an exemplary embodiment of a reactor system 2000, which can utilize an electric stove for a solid phase synthesis of carbon nanotubes. The reactor can comprise:

-   -   an oven 1;     -   an oven entire cover 1.1;     -   a heat resistant layer 1.2;     -   a coil heater 1.4;     -   a heat controller 1.5;     -   a pyrex glass annealing chamber 2; and/or     -   a neck connector 3.

Pyrex glass annealing chamber 2 can be described via a first dimension 2200, a second dimension 2300, a third dimension 2400, a fourth dimension 2500, and/or a sixth dimension 2600. Each of first dimension 2200, second dimension 2300, third dimension 2400, fourth dimension 2500, and/or sixth dimension 2600 can be any suitable dimension for synthesis of carbon nanostructures. For example, first dimension 2200 can be approximately, in mm, 4, 5.138, 8.28, 10.71, 12.5, 14.75, 18, 21.758, 41.6 and/or any value or subrange therebetween. For example, each of second dimension 2300, third dimension 2400, fourth dimension 2500, and/or sixth dimension 2600 can be approximately, in cm, 2, 3.135, 4, 5.984, 6.9, 8.247, 10.76, 12, 12.109, 12.5, 14.834, 15.875, 16, 22.4, 27.676, 32, 38.621, 40, 45.6, 51.237, 66.087, 76, 80, and/or an value or subrange therebetween,

FIG. 3 shows a general schematic of a reactor using an electric stove using a quartz tube and/or a ceramic tube for a solid phase synthesis of carbon nanotubes, which can comprise one or more mass flow controllers, an unoxidizing gas inlet, a furnace, a quartz tube, a temperature controller, a cold trap, and/or an absorbent.

Comparison Example 1

Examples 2 and 3 were repeated except that resin 1 was used instead of resin 3 (as referenced in FIG. 4). The resultant Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM) micrograph is seen at reference numeral 400 in FIG. 6, from which it is seen that the carbon nanotubes were not synthesized. Rather, fine particles of carbon were synthesized. From this it can be concluded that resin 3, which carries the functional group —CN is effective as a tube forming agent.

Example 4

Preparation of the precursor using resin 1 (as referenced in FIG. 4) carrying substantially no —CN group in the molecule added with additive carrying —CN group in the molecule. Repeat Comparison Example 1 except that approximately two (2) g of TCA 4 (as indicated by FtIR chart illustrated in FIG. 22) was added during the process of making solid precursor with non-CN group resin 1 (as referenced in FIG. 4). The FE-SEM picture of the pyrolysis product from Example 4 is shown in FIG. 7. The TCA 4 additive which carries the —CN group can help a precursor which doesn't carry —CN group to form the tube product. Thus —CN group can be the precursor to provoke the formation of carbon nanotube.

FIG. 8 shows a FE-SEM image of carbon tube having outside diameter of approximately 600 nm and inside diameter of approximately 420 nm. FIG. 9 shows a FE-SEM image of carbon nanotube having outside diameter less than approximately 1 nm. FIG. 10 shows a FE-SEM image of a twisting carbon nanotube of an exemplary embodiment. All of these products are resulting of using TCA comprising a —CN group.

Specific precursor for fabrication of carbon nanotube can be comprised of specific carbon sources from plants and vegetables grown in a specific geography, tube shape control additives (TCA), and metallic catalysts, in which the carbon nanotubes are fabricated into ultra high-strength nanofibers that can be woven, knitted, sewn, interlaced, interlinked, netted, spun, spiraled, twisted, looped, wet laid, laminated, veneered, thermoplasticized, and/or gas phase-, chemical-, sputter- and/or vapor-deposited to form materials and items including armor, coverings, and/or components for persons, vehicles and structures, including for protection against radiation, chemical, and/or biological agents; fabricated into adhesive surfaces; fabricated into apparel, footwear, and/or fabrics used for tarps, weather-resistant coverings, and/or sails including ultraviolet radiation protection; embedded into substrates for acoustic, infrared, ultraviolet, and/or other electromagnetic radiation detection; embedded in substrates to form tires, railroad bogies, and/or other friction control and/or vibration control devices; fabricated into load-bearing lines for use in parachutes, draglines, cargo containers, netting, connecting lines and/or moorings for land-based, aquatic, aerial, and/or outer space applications; fabricated into structures for load-bearing and/or retention applications in construction, including buildings, scaffolds, marine vessel hulls, components, and/or fittings; aircraft and/or aerospace fuselages and/or structures, and/or land-based vehicle components, including body parts, engine components, and/or brake linings; fabricated into composites used in biomechanical devices and surgical implants and/or tissue-engineering structures including bone, tendon, muscle, nerve, and/or skin implants and/or surrogates, wound-healing structures, molecular capture devices for timed drug delivery; fabricated into nano-cantilevers for biosensing, cell growth, and/or orthopedic, vascular, and/or neural prostheses; fabricated into filters, barriers, and/or wipes; embedded into sheets and/or substrates as nanowires, ultrathin films, photon detectors for the purpose of conducting electricity and/or acting as batteries, membrane fuel cells, supercapacitors, superconductors, electromagnetic and/or electro-optical actuators, and/or microelectromechanical devices (e.g., for use in magnetic resonance imaging machines, magnetic levitation trains, and/or electric transmission lines); fabricated into sheets or structures with variable optical properties; embedded into sheets for use as heat conductors, heat sinks, high strength building and reinforcing material, automotive, marine, and/or aviation and/or aerospace panels; fabricated into tubular or I-beam cross sectional items for use as conduits, structural members, and/or the like.

X-Ray diffraction (XRD) pattern can be one way to identify the crystal structure of a solid. In certain exemplary embodiments, tube diameters that are less than approximately 5 nm gives rise to 2 theta of approximately 25-26°, 43.5°. Otherwise tube diameter greater than approximately 15 nm gives rise to XRD peaks at 2 theta of approximately 44.5° and 51.6°. XRD is one method to identify materials.

FIG. 11 is a reference TGA data regarding heat resistant properties of a known carbon nano tube product (see, e.g., http://www.azonano.com/Details.asp?ArticleID=2037#_Catalytic_Activity).

FIG. 12 is a graph of thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis for an exemplary embodiment of carbon nanotubes that were produced using additives comprising a CN group. FIG. 12 indicates that certain exemplary carbon nanotubes produced using additives comprising a CN group show at least 61.76% Residue at approximately 1400° C.

FIG. 13 shows a FE-SEM image of carbon nano structures of an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 14 is an X-ray diffractogram of carbon nano structures of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13. FIG. 15 shows a FE-SEM image of carbon nano structures of an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an X-ray diffractogram of carbon nano structures of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 15. FIG. 17 shows a FE-SEM image of carbon nanotubes of an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 18 is an X-ray diffractogram of carbon nanotubes of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 17. FIG. 19 shows a FE-SEM image of carbon nanotubes of an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 20 is an X-ray diffractogram of carbon nanotubes of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 19.

Certain exemplary carbon nano products can be used as an electron source, such as for electron microscopy, field emission lighting, x-ray source, space propulsion, traveling wave tube amplifiers, air remediation, water remediation, and/or cold field emission, etc. Properties of carbon nano products can comprise a relatively small tip radii (and relatively small source size), relatively high electrical conductivity, relatively high melting point, and/or resistance to electromigration under an applied electric field. Carbon nanotube electron point sources can be relatively stable, with relatively high brightness, relatively low energy spread, and relatively low noise. Certain exemplary embodiments can be adapted to produce emitter arrays that can deliver relatively high current beams at relatively high frequencies.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 21000. At activity 21100, carbon can be obtained from a carbon source. For example, the carbon can be obtained from one or more of animal fatty acids, plant oils, a starch, a bean bearing plant, cloth, wood, a plant, cellulose and/or a cellulosic product, etc.

In certain exemplary embodiments, at least some carbon used to form the carbon nanotube is obtained from an additive, the additive having a structure formula:

in which each of R₁, R₂, and R₃ is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₄R₅, —NR₆H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR₇, —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₈R₉, or —COCl.

In certain exemplary embodiments, at least some carbon used to form the carbon nanotube is obtained from an additive, the additive having a structure formula:

in which R is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₂R₃, —NR₄H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR₅, —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₆R₇, or —COCl.

In certain exemplary embodiments, at least some carbon used to form the carbon nanotube is obtained from an additive, the additive having a structure formula:

in which each of R₁ and R₂ is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₃R₄, —NR₅H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR₆, —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₇R₈, or —COCl.

In certain exemplary embodiments, at least some carbon used to form the carbon nanotube is obtained from an additive, the additive having a structure formula:

in which each of R₁, R₂, and R₃ is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₄R₅, —NR₆H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR_(S), —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₈R₉, or —COCl.

In certain exemplary embodiments, at least some carbon used to form the carbon nanotube is obtained from an additive, the additive having a structure formula:

in which each of R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, and R₅, is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₆R₇, —NR₈H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR₉, —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₁₀R₁₁, or —COCl.

In certain exemplary embodiments, at least some carbon used to form the carbon nanotube is obtained from an additive, the additive having a structure formula:

in which each of R₁, R₂, and R₃ is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₄R₅, —NR₆H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR₇, —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₈R₉, or —COCl

In certain exemplary embodiments, at least some carbon used to form the carbon nanotube is obtained from an additive, the additive having a structure formula:

in which each of R₁, R₂, and R₃ is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₄R₅, —NR₆H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR_(S), —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₈R₉, or —COCl.

In certain exemplary embodiments, at least some carbon used to form the carbon nanotube is obtained from an additive, the additive having a structure formula:

in which each of R₁, R₂, R₃, and R₄, is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₅R₆, —NR₇H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR_(S), —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₉R₁₀, or —COCl.

In certain exemplary embodiments, at least some carbon used to form the carbon nanotube is obtained from an additive, the additive having a structure formula:

in which each of R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, and R₆ is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₇R₈, —NR₉H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR₁₀, —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₁₁R₁₂, or —COCl.

In certain exemplary embodiments, at least some carbon used to form the carbon nanotube is obtained from an additive, the additive having a structure formula:

in which each of R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, and R₅, is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₆R₇, —NR₈H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR₉, —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₁₀R₁₁, or —COCl.

In certain exemplary embodiments, at least some carbon used to form the carbon nanotube is obtained from an additive, the additive having a structure formula:

in which each of R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, and R₆ is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₇R₈, —NR₉H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR₁₀, —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₁₁R₁₂, or —COCl.

In certain exemplary embodiments, at least some carbon used to form the carbon nanotube is obtained from an additive, the additive having a structure formula:

in which each of R₁, R₂, R₃, and R₄, is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₅R₆, —NR₇H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR_(S), —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₉R₁₀, or —COCl.

In certain exemplary embodiments, at least some carbon used to form the carbon nanotube is obtained from an additive, the additive having a structure formula:

in which each of R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, and R₆ is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₇R₈, —NR₉H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR₁₀, —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₁₁R₁₂, or —COCl.

In certain exemplary embodiments, at least some carbon used to form the carbon nanotube is obtained from an additive, the additive having a structure formula:

in which each of R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, and R₆ is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₇R₈, —NR₉H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR_(m), —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₁₁R₁₂, or —COCl.

In certain exemplary embodiments, at least some carbon used to form the carbon nanotube is obtained from an additive, the additive having a structure formula:

in which each of R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇, R₈, and R₉ is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₁₀R₁₁, —NR₁₂H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR₁₃, —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₁₄R₁₅, or —COCl.

At activity 21200, a TCA can be obtained. In certain exemplary embodiments, the TCA can have a structure formula:

in which each of R₁, R₂, and R₃ is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₄R₅, —NR₆H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR₇, —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₈R₉, or —COCl.

In certain exemplary embodiments, the TCA can have a structure formula:

in which each of R₁ and R₂ is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₃R₄, —NR₅H —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR₆, —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₇R₈, or —COCl.

In certain exemplary embodiments, the TCA can have a structure formula:

in which R₁ is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₂R₃, —NR₄H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR₅, —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₆R₇, or —COCl.

In certain exemplary embodiments, the TCA can have a structure formula:

in which the formula comprises a 3 member ring, 4 member ring, 5 member ring, 6 member ring, 7 member ring, or 8 member ring having substituent groups including hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, or aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₁R₂, —NR₃H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR₄, —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₅R₆, —COCl, wherein member rings are saturated and unsaturated with a value of n between 1 and 6; the member rings comprising benzene, napthalene, anthracene, perylene, or perinone.

At activity 21300, a catalyst, such as a metallic catalyst can be obtained. In certain exemplary embodiments the metallic catalyst can comprise a metal salt and/or an organometallic compound.

At activity 21400, the carbon can be converted to a powder. For example, the carbon can be converted to a powder via one or more of mechanical milling, biochemical reaction, and/or chemical reaction, etc.

At activity 21500, raw materials comprising the carbon, the TCA, and/or the catalyst can be heated.

At activity 21600, the carbon can be converted to a carbon nano structure such as a structure comprising a carbon nanotube, a carbon nano fiber, and/or a functionalized nano carbon. In certain exemplary embodiments, via a solid phase synthetic process utilizing the TCA and the metal catalyst, a length and/or diameter of the carbon nanotube, the carbon nano fiber, and/or the functionalized nano carbon can be controlled. Certain exemplary embodiments result in a relatively short carbon nanotube without utilizing an X-Ray or an electron beam (“E beam”).

In certain exemplary embodiments, the carbon nanotube can be characterized by

Bragg diffraction pattern peaks appearing at 2 theta (2θ) of approximately 26°, 43.5°. In certain exemplary embodiments, the carbon nanotube is characterized by Bragg diffraction pattern peaks appearing 2 theta (2θ) of approximately 44.5°, 51.6°.

At activity 21700, an item can be fabricated. For example, via a carbon nanotube, one or more of the following items can be fabricated:

-   -   components adapted for use as armor or a covering that at least         partially resists penetration by a projectile, radiation,         chemical agents, or biological agents;     -   adhesive surfaces;     -   apparel, footwear, or fabrics adapted for use as a tarp,         weather-resistant covering, or sail;     -   substrates adapted for acoustic, infrared, ultraviolet, or other         electromagnetic radiation detection;     -   substrates adapted to form tires, railroad bogies, friction         control, or vibration control devices;     -   load-bearing lines adapted for use in parachutes, draglines,         cargo containers, netting, or connecting lines;     -   moorings adapted for land-based, aquatic, aerial, or outer space         applications;     -   structures adapted for load-bearing or retention applications in         construction, including buildings, scaffolds, marine vessel         hulls, components, or fittings;     -   construction materials adapted for use in structures;     -   metallic alloys adapted for use in structures, the metallic         alloys comprising nano carbon structures and at least one metal;     -   ceramic composites adapted for use in structures, the ceramic         composites comprising nano carbon structures and at least one         ceramic material;     -   a structure comprising a heat resistant composite adapted to         resist thermal decomposition to at least 1500 degrees Celsius;     -   superconductor composites adapted for use in structures, the         superconductor composites prepared at temperature higher than         1500 degrees Celsius, the superconductor composites comprising         nano carbon structures and at least one superconducting         material;     -   high temperature composites adapted for use in structures;     -   aircraft or aerospace fuselages or structures, or land-based         vehicle components, including body parts, engine components, or         brake linings;     -   rotation parts adapted for use in at least one of:         -   vehicles;         -   transportation devices,         -   rotating equipment; or         -   rotating tools;         -   bearings;     -   composites adapted for use in paints adapted to resist scratches         and wear caused by an impact or collision;     -   colorants adapted for use in ceramic coloration process,         processing at high heat condition;     -   composites adapted for use in brick;     -   composites adapted for use in biomechanical devices; surgical         implants; tissue-engineering structures including bone, tendon,         muscle, nerve, skin implants or surrogates; wound-healing         structures, or molecular capture devices adapted for timed drug         delivery;     -   nano-cantilevers adapted for biosensing, cell growth, or         orthopedic, vascular, or neural prostheses;     -   filters, barriers, or wipes;     -   sheets, substrates, nanowires, ultrathin films, or photon         detectors adapted for conducting electricity or acting as         batteries, membrane fuel cells, supercapacitors,         superconductors, electromagnetic or electro-optical actuators,         or microelectromechanical devices;     -   sheets or structures with variable optical properties;     -   sheets adapted for use as heat conductors, heat sinks, building         and reinforcing material, automotive, marine, or aviation or         aerospace panels;     -   tubular or I-beam cross sectional items adapted for use as         conduits or structural members; and/or     -   an electron source adapted for use in:         -   electron microscopy;         -   field emission lighting;         -   x-ray source;         -   space propulsion;         -   traveling wave tube amplifiers;         -   air remediation;         -   water remediation; or         -   cold field emission, etc.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a reactor system 23000, which can comprise carbon 23100, a tube control agent 23200, a catalyst 23300, a transformation process 23400, and an item 23500. Carbon 23100 can be obtained from a starch, a bean bearing plant, cloth, wood, a plant, and/or a cellulose or cellulosic product, etc. Carbon 23100 can be partially obtained from an additive. Tube control agent 23200 can be any tube control agent described elsewhere herein. Catalyst 23300 can be any catalyst described elsewhere herein. Item 23500 can be any of, for example,

-   -   components adapted for use as armor or a covering that at least         partially resists penetration by a projectile, radiation,         chemical agents, or biological agents;     -   adhesive surfaces;     -   apparel, footwear, or fabrics adapted for use as a tarp,         weather-resistant covering, or sail;     -   substrates adapted for acoustic, infrared, ultraviolet, or other         electromagnetic radiation detection;     -   substrates adapted to form tires, railroad bogies, friction         control, or vibration control devices;     -   load-bearing lines adapted for use in parachutes, draglines,         cargo containers, netting, or connecting lines;     -   moorings adapted for land-based, aquatic, aerial, or outer space         applications;     -   structures adapted for load-bearing or retention applications in         construction, including buildings, scaffolds, marine vessel         hulls, components, or fittings;     -   construction materials adapted for use in structures;     -   metallic alloys adapted for use in structures, the metallic         alloys comprising nano carbon structures and at least one metal;     -   ceramic composites adapted for use in structures, the ceramic         composites comprising nano carbon structures and at least one         ceramic material;     -   a structure comprising a heat resistant composite adapted to         resist thermal decomposition to at least 1500 degrees Celsius;     -   superconductor composites adapted for use in structures, the         superconductor composites prepared at temperature higher than         1500 degrees Celsius, the superconductor composites comprising         nano carbon structures and at least one superconducting         material;     -   high temperature composites adapted for use in structures;     -   aircraft or aerospace fuselages or structures, or land-based         vehicle components, including body parts, engine components, or         brake linings;     -   rotation parts adapted for use in at least one of:         -   vehicles;         -   transportation devices,         -   rotating equipment; or         -   rotating tools;         -   bearings;     -   composites adapted for use in paints adapted to resist scratches         and wear caused by an impact or collision;     -   colorants adapted for use in ceramic coloration process,         processing at high heat condition;     -   composites adapted for use in brick;     -   composites adapted for use in biomechanical devices; surgical         implants; tissue-engineering structures including bone, tendon,         muscle, nerve, skin implants or surrogates; wound-healing         structures, or molecular capture devices adapted for timed drug         delivery;     -   nano-cantilevers adapted for biosensing, cell growth, or         orthopedic, vascular, or neural prostheses;     -   filters, barriers, or wipes;     -   sheets, substrates, nanowires, ultrathin films, or photon         detectors adapted for conducting electricity or acting as         batteries, membrane fuel cells, supercapacitors,         superconductors, electromagnetic or electro-optical actuators,         or microelectromechanical devices;     -   sheets or structures with variable optical properties;     -   sheets adapted for use as heat conductors, heat sinks, building         and reinforcing material, automotive, marine, or aviation or         aerospace panels;     -   tubular or I-beam cross sectional items adapted for use as         conduits or structural members; and/or     -   an electron source adapted for use in:         -   electron microscopy;         -   field emission lighting;         -   x-ray source;         -   space propulsion;         -   traveling wave tube amplifiers;         -   air remediation;         -   water remediation; or         -   cold field emission, etc.

FIG. 24 is a table of thermogravimetric analysis data for certain exemplary embodiments. FIG. 24 shows TGA data of CNT synthesized in solid phase using pine wood as a carbon source. All of MS was substantially completely removed before the TGA test. Residue mass at approximately 1400° C. was always above 62%, some reached as high as 81.86%. After an acid wash more that 99% pure carbon products were achieved. After chemical processing, the mass loss was less than approximately 5%.

DEFINITIONS

When the following terms are used substantively herein, the accompanying definitions apply. These terms and definitions are presented without prejudice, and, consistent with the application, the right to redefine these terms during the prosecution of this application or any application claiming priority hereto is reserved. For the purpose of interpreting a claim of any patent that claims priority hereto, each definition (or redefined term if an original definition was amended during the prosecution of that patent), functions as a clear and unambiguous disavowal of the subject matter outside of that definition.

-   -   a—at least one.     -   activity—an action, act, step, and/or process or portion         thereof.     -   adapted to—made suitable or fit for a specific use or situation.     -   additive—a first substance added to second substance or product         in order to modify one or more properties of the second         substance.     -   and/or—either in conjunction with or in alternative to.     -   animal—a multicellular organism that is usually mobile, whose         cells are not encased in a rigid cell wall (distinguishing it         from plants and fungi) and which derives energy solely from the         consumption of other organisms.     -   apparatus—an appliance or device for a particular purpose.     -   associate—to join, connect together, and/or relate.     -   bean—a relatively large edible seed of plants of several genera         of Fabaceae.     -   can—is capable of, in at least some embodiments.     -   carbon nanotube—a fullerene molecule having a cylindrical or         toroidal shape; the nanotube diameter can range from on the         order of a few nanometers (approximately 1/50,000th of the width         of a human hair) to greater than 18 centimeters in length.     -   catalyst—a substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical         reaction without itself being affected by the chemical reaction.     -   cause—to produce an effect.     -   ceramic composite—a substance comprising a ceramic material that         forms a substantially continuous matrix and at least one other         ceramic or non-ceramic material dispersed in the substantially         continuous matrix.     -   ceramic material—an inorganic, non-metallic solid prepared by         the action of heat and subsequent cooling; ceramic materials can         have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be         amorphous (e.g., a glass).     -   cloth—a woven fabric.     -   composite—an engineered material made from two or more         constituent materials with significantly different physical or         chemical properties, which remain separate and distinct on a         macroscopic level within the engineered material structure.     -   comprising—including but not limited to.     -   construction materials—substances adapted for use in building a         device and/or system; construction materials comprise bricks and         metallic frames; construction materials can comprise alloys of         nano carbon and at least one metal.     -   convert—to transform, adapt, and/or change.     -   create—to bring into being.     -   define—to establish the outline, form, or structure of.     -   determine—to obtain, calculate, decide, deduce, and/or         ascertain.     -   device—a machine, manufacture, and/or collection thereof.     -   fatty acid—any of a class of aliphatic carboxylic acids, of         general formula C_(n)H_(2n+1)COOH, that occur combined with         glycerol as animal or vegetable oils and fats.     -   generate—to create, produce, give rise to, and/or bring into         existence.     -   hetero atom—any atom that is not carbon or hydrogen, such as,         nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, phosphorus, boron, chlorine, bromine,         or iodine.     -   high temperature composite—a substance comprising nano carbon         structures and at least one rare earth material, the substance         treated at a temperature higher than 1500 degrees Celsius.     -   initialize—to prepare something for use and/or some future         event.     -   item—an object of a set of objects.     -   ad-bearing—a device and/or system adapted to resist deformation         from applied weight.     -   may—is allowed and/or permitted to, in at least some         embodiments.     -   metal salt—an ionic compound composed of a cationic metal (a         positively charged ion) and an anion (negative ion) so that the         product is electrically neutral (without a net charge).     -   metallic—comprising a metal; a metal is an element, compound, or         alloy characterized by relatively high electrical conductivity;         metals occupy most of the periodic table, while non-metallic         elements can only be found on the right-hand-side of the         Periodic Table of the Elements. A diagonal line drawn from         boron (B) to polonium (Po) separates the metals from the         nonmetals.     -   method—a process, procedure, and/or collection of related         activities for accomplishing something.     -   mooring—a device and/or system adapted to hold secure an object         via cables, anchors, or lines.     -   nano-cantilever—a strip of silicon carbide, a few hundred         nanometers in width, whose vibrational frequency varies in         proportion to a mass of objects resting thereon.     -   oil—any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and is         hydrophobic but soluble in organic solvents.     -   organometallic compound—a substance comprising a chemical bond         between carbon and a metal.     -   penetrate—to pass into or through, such as by overcoming         resistance.     -   plant—an organism, living or previously living, lacking a         capability of locomotion.     -   plurality—the state of being plural and/or more than one.     -   powder—a dry solid comprising particles having a diameter that         is less than approximately 75 microns.     -   provide—to furnish, supply, give, and/or make available.     -   receive—to get as a signal, take, acquire, and/or obtain.     -   resist—to withstand a force.     -   select—to make a choice or selection from alternatives.     -   set—a related plurality.     -   sheet—a substantially planar object that is thin relative to its         length and width.     -   starch—a carbohydrate consisting of a large number of glucose         units joined together by glycosidic bonds.     -   structure—a device and/or system that is constructed of many         distinct parts.     -   structure formula—a graphical representation of the molecular         structure, of a substance showing how the atoms are arranged.     -   substantially—to a great extent or degree.     -   substrate—a first stratum or layer lying underneath a second         stratum or layer.     -   superconductor—a material having an electrical resistance of         approximately zero.     -   system—a collection of mechanisms, devices, machines, articles         of manufacture, processes, data, and/or instructions, the         collection designed to perform one or more specific functions.     -   tube control agent—a substance adapted to regulate a shape         and/or formation mechanism of a carbon nanostructure.     -   via—by way of and/or utilizing.     -   wood—an organic material, a natural composite of cellulose         fibers (which are strong in tension) embedded in a matrix of         lignin which resists compression.

Note

Still other substantially and specifically practical and useful embodiments will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from reading the above-recited and/or herein-included detailed description and/or drawings of certain exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that numerous variations, modifications, and additional embodiments are possible, and accordingly, all such variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the scope of this application.

Thus, regardless of the content of any portion (e.g., title, field, background, summary, description, abstract, drawing figure, etc.) of this application, unless clearly specified to the contrary, such as via explicit definition, assertion, or argument, with respect to any claim, whether of this application and/or any claim of any application claiming priority hereto, and whether originally presented or otherwise:

there is no requirement for the inclusion of any particular described or illustrated characteristic, function; activity, or element, any particular sequence of activities, or any particular interrelationship of elements; no characteristic, function, activity, or element is “essential”; any elements can be integrated, segregated, and/or duplicated; any activity can be repeated, any activity can be performed by multiple entities, and/or any activity can be performed in multiple jurisdictions; and any activity or element can be specifically excluded, the sequence of activities can vary, and/or the interrelationship of elements can vary.

Moreover, when any number or range is described herein, unless clearly stated otherwise, that number or range is approximate. When any range is described herein, unless clearly stated otherwise, that range includes all values therein and all subranges therein. For example, if a range of 1 to 10 is described, that range includes all values therebetween, such as for example, 1.1, 2.5, 3.335, 5, 6.179, 8.9999, etc., and includes all subranges therebetween, such as for example, 1 to 3.65, 2.8 to 8.14, 1.93 to 9, etc.

When any claim element is followed by a drawing element number, that drawing element number is exemplary and non-limiting on claim scope. No claim of this application is intended to invoke paragraph six of 35 USC 112 unless the precise phrase “means for” is followed by a gerund.

Any information in any material (e.g., a United States patent, United States patent application, book, article, etc.) that has been incorporated by reference herein, is only incorporated by reference to the extent that no conflict exists between such information and the other statements and drawings set forth herein. In the event of such conflict, including a conflict that would render invalid any claim herein or seeking priority hereto, then any such conflicting information in such material is specifically not incorporated by reference herein.

Accordingly, every portion (e.g., title, field, background, summary, description, abstract, drawing figure, etc.) of this application, other than the claims themselves, is to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive, and the scope of subject matter protected by any patent that issues based on this application is defined only by the claims of that patent. 

1. A method comprising a plurality of activities, comprising: via a carbon nanotube, a carbon nano fiber, or functionalized nano carbon fabricating an item comprising: components adapted for use as armor or a covering that at least partially resists penetration by a projectile, radiation, chemical agents, or biological agents; thin film prepared by the solvent evaporation of the foregoing adhesive surfaces; apparel, footwear, or fabrics adapted for use as a tarp, weather-resistant covering, or sail; substrates adapted for acoustic, infrared, ultraviolet, or other electromagnetic radiation detection; substrates adapted to form tires, railroad bogies, friction control, or vibration control devices; load-bearing lines adapted for use in parachutes, draglines, cargo containers, netting, or connecting lines; moorings adapted for land-based, aquatic, aerial, or outer space applications; structures adapted for load-bearing or retention applications in construction, including buildings, scaffolds, marine vessel hulls, components, or fittings; construction materials adapted for use in structures; metallic alloys adapted for use in structures, said metallic alloys comprising nano carbon structures and at least one metal; ceramic composites adapted for use in structures, said ceramic composites comprising nano carbon structures and at least one ceramic material; a structure comprising a heat resistant composite adapted to resist thermal decomposition to at least 1500 degrees Celsius; superconductor composites adapted for use in structures, said superconductor composites prepared at temperature higher than 1500 degrees Celsius, said superconductor composites comprising nano carbon structures and at least one superconducting material; high temperature composites adapted for use in structures; aircraft or aerospace fuselages or structures, or land-based vehicle components, including body parts, engine components, or brake linings; rotation parts adapted for use in at least one of: vehicles; transportation devices, rotating equipment; or rotating tools; bearings; composites adapted for use in paints adapted to resist scratches and wear caused by an impact or collision; colorants adapted for use in ceramic coloration process, processing at high heat condition; composites adapted for use in brick; composites adapted for use in biomechanical devices; surgical implants; tissue-engineering structures including bone, tendon, muscle, nerve, skin implants or surrogates; wound-healing structures, or molecular capture devices adapted for timed drug delivery; nano-cantilevers adapted for biosensing, cell growth, or orthopedic, vascular, or neural prostheses; filters, barriers, or wipes; sheets, substrates, nanowires, ultrathin films, or photon detectors adapted for conducting electricity or acting as batteries, membrane fuel cells, supercapacitors, superconductors, electromagnetic or electro-optical actuators, or microelectromechanical devices; sheets or structures with variable optical properties; sheets adapted for use as heat conductors, heat sinks, building and reinforcing material, automotive, marine, or aviation or aerospace panels; tubular or I-beam cross sectional items adapted for use as conduits or structural members; or an electron source adapted for use in: electron microscopy; field emission lighting; x-ray source; space propulsion; traveling wave tube amplifiers; air remediation; water remediation; or cold field emission; said carbon nanotube produced via a tube control agent (TCA) and a metallic catalyst, at least some carbon used to form said carbon nanotube obtained from starch, a bean bearing plant, cloth, wood, a plant, cellulose or a cellulosic product; said at least some carbon converted into powder by at least one of: mechanical milling, biochemical reaction, and chemical reaction.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: via a process utilizing said TCA and said metal catalyst, controlling a length and diameter of said, carbon nanotube, said carbon nano fiber, or said functionalized nano carbon.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein: said at least some carbon used to form said carbon nanotube is obtained from starch.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein: said at least some carbon used to form said carbon nanotube is obtained from said bean bearing plant.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein: said at least some carbon used to form said carbon nanotube is obtained from cloth.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein: said at least some carbon used to form said carbon nanotube is obtained from wood.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein: said at least some carbon used to form said carbon nanotube is obtained from said plant.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein: said at least some carbon used to form said carbon nanotube is obtained from cellulose.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein: said at least some carbon used to form said carbon nanotube is obtained from said cellulosic product.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein: said TCA comprises a unit having a structure formula:

in which each of R₁, R₂, and R₃ is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₄R₅, —NR₆H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR_(S), —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₈R₉, or—COCl.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein: said TCA comprises a unit having a structure formula:

in which each of R₁ and R₂ is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₃R₄, —NR₅H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR₆, —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₇R₈, or —COCl.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein: said TCA comprises a unit having a structure formula:

in which R₁ is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₂R₃, —NR₄H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR₅, —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₆R₇, or —COCl.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein: said TCA comprises a unit having a structure formula:

in which said formula comprises a 3 member ring, 4 member ring, 5 member ring, 6 member ring, 7 member ring, or 8 member ring having substituent groups including hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, or aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₁R₂, —NR₃H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR₄, —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₅R₆, —COCl, wherein member rings are saturated and unsaturated with a value of n between 1 and 6; said member rings comprising benzene, napthalene, anthracene, perylene, or perinone.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein: at least some carbon used to form said carbon nanotube is obtained from an additive, said additive having a structure formula:

in which each of R₁, R₂, and R₃ is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₄R₅, —NR₆H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR_(S), —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₈R₉, or —COCl.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein: at least some carbon used to form said carbon nanotube is obtained from an additive, said additive having a structure formula:

in which R is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₂R₃, —NR₄H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR₅, —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₆R₇, or —COCl.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein: at least some carbon used to form said carbon nanotube is obtained from an additive, said additive having a structure formula:

in which each of R₁ and R₂ is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₃R₄, —NR₅H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR₆, —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₇R₈, or —COCl.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein: at least some carbon used to form said carbon nanotube is obtained from an additive, said additive having a structure formula:

in which each of R₁, R₂, and R₃ is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₄R₅, —NR₆H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR_(S), —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —PR₈R₉, or —COCl.
 18. The method of claim 1, wherein: at least some carbon used to form said carbon nanotube is obtained from an additive, said additive having a structure formula:

in which each of R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, and R₅, is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₆R₇, —NR₈H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR_(S), —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₁₀R₁₁, or —COCl.
 19. The method of claim 1, wherein: at least some carbon used to form said carbon nanotube is obtained from an additive, said additive having a structure formula:

in which each of R₁, R₂, and R₃ is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₄R₅, —NR₆H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR_(S), —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₈R₉, or —COCl.
 20. The method of claim 1, wherein: at least some carbon used to form said carbon nanotube is obtained from an additive, said additive having a structure formula:

in which each of R₁, R₂, and R₃ is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₄R₅, —NR₆H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR₇, —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₈R₉, or —COCl.
 21. The method of claim 1, wherein: at least some carbon used to form said carbon nanotube is obtained from an additive, said additive having a structure formula:

in which each of R₁, R₂, R₃, and R₄, is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₅R₆, —NRH, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR_(S), —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₉R₁₀, or —COCl.
 22. The method of claim 1, wherein: at least some carbon used to form said carbon nanotube is obtained from an additive, said additive having a structure formula:

in which each of R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, and R₆ is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₇R₈, —NR₉H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR₁₀, —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₁₁R₁₂, or —COCl.
 23. The method of claim 1, wherein: at least some carbon used to form said carbon nanotube is obtained from an additive, said additive having a structure formula:

in which each of R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, and R₅, is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₆R₇, —NR₈H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR_(S), —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₁₀R₁₁, or —COCl.
 24. The method of claim 1, wherein: at least some carbon used to form said carbon nanotube is obtained from an additive, said additive having a structure formula:

in which each of R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, and R₆ is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₇R₈, —NR₉H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR₁₀, —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₁₁R₁₂, or —COCl.
 25. The method of claim 1, wherein: at least some carbon used to form said carbon nanotube is obtained from an additive, said additive having a structure formula:

in which each of R₁, R₂, R₃, and R₄, is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₅R₆, —NRH, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR_(S), —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₉R₁₀, or —COCl.
 26. The method of claim 1, wherein: at least some carbon used to form said carbon nanotube is obtained from an additive, said additive having a structure formula:

in which each of R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, and R₆ is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₇R₈, —NR₉H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR₁₀, —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —PR₁₁R₁₂, or —COCl.
 27. The method of claim 1, wherein: at least some carbon used to form said carbon nanotube is obtained from an additive, said additive having a structure formula:

in which each of R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, and R₆ is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₇R₈, —NR₉H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR₁₀, —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), or —COCl.
 28. The method of claim 1, wherein: at least some carbon used to form said carbon nanotube is obtained from an additive, said additive having a structure formula:

in which each of R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇, R₈, and R₉ is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylenyl, aryl, with or without hetero atoms, with or without substituent groups including —OH, —SH, —NO₂, —CN, —NR₁₀R₁₁, —NR₁₂H, —NH₂, —COOH, —CO, —COOR₁₃, —O—, —CHO, —S—, —SO3H, —SO2, —SOCl₂, halogen (—Cl, —Br, —I, —F), —N═N—, —PR₁₄R₁₅, or —COCl.
 29. The method of claim 1, wherein: said metallic catalyst is a metal salt.
 30. The method of claim 1, wherein: said metallic catalyst is an organometallic compound.
 31. The method of claim 1, wherein: at least some carbon used to form said carbon nanotube is obtained from animal fatty acids.
 32. The method of claim 1, wherein: at least some carbon used to form said carbon nanotube is obtained from plant oils.
 33. The method of claim 1, wherein: said carbon nanotube is characterized by Bragg diffraction pattern peaks appearing at 2 theta (2θ) of approximately 26°, 43.5°.
 34. The method of claim 1, wherein: said carbon nanotube is characterized by Bragg diffraction pattern peaks appearing 2 theta (2θ) of approximately 44.5°, 51.6°.
 35. A method comprising a plurality of activities, comprising: via a carbon nanotube, fabricating a composite adapted for use in biomechanical devices; surgical implants; tissue-engineering structures including bone, tendon, muscle, nerve, skin implants or surrogates; wound-healing structures, or molecular capture devices adapted for timed drug delivery, said carbon nanotube produced via a tube control agent (TCA) and a metallic catalyst, at least some carbon used to form said carbon nanotube obtained from starch, bean, cloth, wood, plant, cellulose or cellulosic products, said at least some carbon converted into powder by at least one of: mechanical milling, biochemical reaction, and chemical reaction.
 36. A method comprising a plurality of activities, comprising: via a carbon nanotube, fabricating a composite adapted for use in a rotation part, said carbon nanotube produced via a tube control agent (TCA) and a metallic catalyst, at least some carbon used to form said carbon nanotube obtained from starch, bean, cloth, wood, plant, cellulose or cellulosic products, said at least some carbon converted into powder by at least one of: mechanical milling, biochemical reaction, and chemical reaction. 